Strawberry plant variety named Darselect

ABSTRACT

A strawberry plant producing large conical fruit on a vigorous plant having good rooting capacity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure involves a newly developed strawberry, Fragaria Xannanassa Duch. plant, which has been denominated `Darselct` for purposes of international recognition. The new variety of strawberry was created by my crossing as female parent the variety known as `Elsanta` and as male parent the variety known as `Parker`.

The new variety was grown and asexually reproduced by runners and micropropagation. The plant of this invention is the resulting selection, from the stated cross, which was based on a novel and superior combination of characteristics which will be disclosed infra, as well as depicted in the drawing. The combination of characteristics reflects the novelty of this plant and of its potentially advantageous use in the production of commercial strawberry fruit as well as in planned breeding programs for the development of further superior varieties. Asexual propagation and testing in Milly La Foret, France, has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true-to-type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety. The varietal denomination of the new variety is `Darselect`. Among the characteristics which distinguish the new variety from other varieties of which I am aware are a combination of traits which include vigorous growth habit, good rooting capacity, large conical fruit with firm skin, early ripening and long harvest time. The new variety is not ever bearing. The new strawberry plant `Darselect` is a short day responsive plant.

Comparison to Closest Variety

The new variety is closest to the variety `Elsanta`, but is distinguished therefrom by producing a more erect plant, longer petioles, larger fruit and more homogenous skin color than `Elsanta`.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flower, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of this character.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show typical fruit and fruit in cross section, and illustrate the flesh, flesh coloration, and conical shape.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show plants of the new variety, plants with fruit, and foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown outdoors in Milly La Foret, France, in June.

    ______________________________________                                         Description of the New Variety and Comparison with `Elsanta`                              DARSELECT   ELSANTA                                                 ______________________________________                                         PLANT:                                                                         Habit:       Globose       Globose, flattened                                  Density:     Medium        Medium to strong                                    Vigor:       Very vigorous Medium vigorous                                     Size:        High          Medium to high                                      Crowns,      Usually about 3                                                   Branches:    crowns for one                                                                 plant; usually about                                                           4 branches for one                                                             crown; usually about                                                           12 branches for one                                                            plant                                                             Size of Crown:                                                                              80% between 9 to                                                               15 mm                                                             Yield:       About 800 g to 900 gr                                                          for one plant                                                     Chilling     About 900 hours =                                                                            About 1200 hours                                    requirement: summ temperatures                                                              below or equal to                                                              +7° C.                                                     Preferred    Early July                                                        planting time:                                                                 Peak production:                                                                            June                                                              LEAVES:                                                                        Size:        Wide          Medium to wide                                      Shape:       Long                                                              Color:       Dark green, near                                                               139A to 137A                                                      Leaflet Number:                                                                             3                                                                 Texture:     Medium to strong                                                  Serration:   Pointed to obtuse                                                 Growth habit:                                                                               Strong                                                            Growing      Well adapted to                                                   Preferences: growing in North of                                                            Europe                                                            Petioles:                                                                      Length:      About 26 to 28 cm                                                                            21 to 24 cm                                         Coloration:  Yellow green 144B                                                                            Yellow green 144B                                   Tomentum:    Strong (young leaf)                                                                          Medium to weak                                      Stipule                                                                        characteristics:                                                               Length and   Medium        Medium to small on                                  width:                     second flower                                       Coloration:  Strong pink,  Little pink                                                      slightly purpled                                                  Runners:     Abundant and                                                                   vigorous                                                          INFLORESCENCE:                                                                 Flower Size: High to medium on                                                                            Medium to small on                                               second flower second flower                                       Flower Color:                                                                               White, near 155D                                                  Number of    5 to 6, sometimes 7                                                                          5 to 7                                              Petals:                                                                        Length of    Long          Medium                                              Peduncles:                                                                     Color of     Green near 137C,                                                  Peduncle:    strong green                                                      Length of    5 to 8 cm     Short                                               Pedicels:                                                                      Color of     Medium green, yellow                                              Pedicels:    green near 144B to                                                             144D                                                              Positioning of                                                                              At the same level as                                                                         Under the foliage                                   the flowers: the foliage                                                       Number of    6, sometimes 5                                                    sepals:                                                                        Position of  Tips to be detached                                               sepals:      from fruit                                                        Size of Calyx:                                                                              Large         Medium; younger                                     Date of      End of February in                                                                           March 15 in                                         Flowering    Southeast; Early                                                                             Southwest                                           (FRANCE) :   March in Southwest                                                Anthers and  Very good production                                              pollen:      of pollen; pollen                                                              yellow orange, near                                                            15A; anthers near                                                              12B                                                               FRUIT:                                                                         Size and shape:                                                                             Most common shape is                                                           conical, longer than                                                           wide, large primary                                                            fruit                                                             Seed         At level of the skin                                              characteristics:                                                               Juiciness:   Very juicy                                                        Taste:       Very good balance                                                              between sugar and                                                              acidity                                                           Color:       Red color, exterior                                                            flesh is medium red                                                            color                                                             Exterior                                                                       surface:                                                                       Color:       Red, near 45A to 44B                                              Glossiness:  Medium, bright                                                    Shape:       Conical                                                           Firmness:    Very firm                                                         Characteristics                                                                             Very firm and juicy,                                              of flesh and small medium core                                                 core:                                                                          Aroma:       Present                                                           Keeping      Medium glossy, very                                               qualities:   good keeping                                                      Sugar level; 8, 7          8                                                   measured by                                                                    refractive                                                                     index:                                                                         Acid level:  9, 9          9, 8                                                DISEASE      Tolerant against                                                                             Medium tolerant                                     RESISTANCE:  Phytothtora                                                                    cactorum; the plant                                                            has been inoculated                                                            for resistance                                                    Mark (5 = very                                                                              2, 2          4                                                   susceptible / 0 =                                                              very resistant):                                                               WINTER HARDINESS:                                                                           Good winter or frost                                                           resistance; extreme                                                            temperatures for                                                               resistance +40° C.,                                                     -25° C.                                                    ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, 